E = mc2

Joe isn’t about to try to talk physics. First, you actually think Joe took physics in college? Closest Joe got was getting a “B” in anatomy.

Besides, it’s beyond boring. And for some odd reason when Joe thinks physics, he thinks of Kaley Cuoco. But perhaps Joe should starting thinking football instead?

It seems Bucs special teams coach Kevin O’Dea believes getting touchdowns off of returns is as simple (?) as physics, types Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.

You think it’s been a long while since the Bucs have made the playoffs? Well, it’s almost been as long since the Bucs returned a kickoff or a punt for six (2010).

“Really, what we’re teaching is geometry and physics, but it’s in phys ed,” O’Dea said Tuesday. “They have to understand their angles, they have to understand their pad level, how we want it done, where the hands have to go and where they can’t go. We don’t want a good return brought back. We’ve got to get this thing rolling.”

O’Dea wouldn’t name any specific returners who have stood out in two weeks of practices — last year’s primary returner, Eric Page, has fielded punts, as has WR Skye Dawson and rookie Solomon Patton, among others. He said the noncontact nature of drills thus far has limited the insights coaches can get about which players are ready to handle the collisions that come with returns.

“Right now, all I can tell is they’re catching the ball, moving forward, they have good hands and they’re being consistent,” O’Dea said. “As far as the toughness part of it, as far as making people miss, I can’t tell about that. … Until we get in pads, we really don’t know those things.”

Joe isn’t so sure banking on Page will produce much. For nearly every decent return he had last year, he had a mind-numbing, facepalm of a mistake. And when your special teams makes head-up-your-arse mistakes, it puts the team as a whole in a pinch.

Look, the Bucs are a long, long, long way from deciding who returns kicks. There may be other candidates, as well. Bucs coach Lovie Smith seems to have a crush on track star Jeff Dempsm and then there is super speedy rookie receiver Robert Herron. As former Bucs commander Greg Schiano once told Joe, speed doesn’t mean you can return. Fielding punts is an art itself.

Just judging by the tough time Demps is having holding on to the ball, Joe is almost scared to think of him fielding a punt.

As for kickoffs, the way the NFL — in the name of safety — is trying to eliminate kick returns, solving the riddle of a Bucs kickoff return for a touchdown may be a much tougher task for O’Dea.

With Mike Glennon starting the majority of this season our special teams needs to figure this out. MG will have our offense on the field for so many long TD drives that opposing offenses will be passing 90% of the time just to catch up. This will create tons of punts because of all the 3-and-outs coming from such an unbalanced attack. MG, already being a legend before his time, is creating all sorts of unforeseen but nice-to-have problems and he hasn’t even stepped onto the field yet for the 2014 regular season.

It’s one thing to try to run through 11 guys trying to take your head off, but finding a punt returner with good enough hands to catch it is another. Imagine a spiraling football coming down on angle from 6 stories high and curving at the same time. Let’s catch it first gentlemen, then run with it.

Funny, I didnt read anything about Glennon in this article. You know, I kinda feel sorry for you MGMers cause the only time you’re going to see him is when the camera gets a shot of the sidelines. He’ll be the ginger cannon clip board holder. Wake up! its all about McCown this season!. Proud member of the IMP.

Physics is not boring. Check out Brian Greene, Michio kaku, or Neil Tyson on youtube. They are amazing at explaining this stuff. Football is grounded in physics and its great to see a scientific approach to the game.